With 100% English Ancestry, I thought it might be really difficult to trace my ancestors back in England from Canada. Only my mother, her father and his mother were born in Canada. This Blog will talk about researching my English ancestors from Canada but also the ancestors of our son in law whose families stretch back far into Colonial French Canada. My one name study of Blake and of Pincombe also dominate my blog these days.

Wednesday, October 4, 2017

Will of Samuel Blake belonging to his Majesties ship the Boyne - The National Archives PROB 11/434, probated 12 Nov 1697

There are too many Samuel Blake baptisms to even suggest a possible person. The same is true for his executrix Elizabeth Lowen. One of the witnesses is named Samuell Rolf which is interesting as one Rolf family at Andover married into the Blake family. However I was not able to particularly relate this Samuell Rolf to that family.

HMS Boyne was an 80 gun Royal Navy second rate ship of the line launched in 1692. This ship was under the command of Captain Dursley when she helped take Gibraltar in 1704.

1 In the Name of God Amen 2 this second day of November Anno domini 1696 I Samuell Blake mariner3 belonging to his Majesties ship the Boyne being sick and weake in body4 but of perfect mind and memory doe make and declare these presents to containe5 my last Will and Testament in manner following that is to say First I bequeath my Soule to God6 and my Body to the Earth Item all such wages sume and summes of money7 goods Chattels and Estate whatsoever wherewith att the time of my decease8 I shall be the possessed or which shall then belong or of right appertaine9 unto me my debts and funeral Expences being first paid I doe give10 devise and bequeath unto Elizabeth Lowen of Portsmouth in the11 County of Southton and I doe hereby nominate and appoint the said12 Elizabeth Executrix of this my will and doe revoke all other wills by me13 formerly made In Wittness whereof I have hereunto sett my hand and11 Seale the said second day of November Anno domini 1696 being the day15 and yeare first above written Samuel Blake Signed sealed published16 and declared in the presence of us John Smith Samuell Rolf Jno Hughs17 John Sleensow18 Probatum fuit huiusmodi Testamentum apud London19 Coram venti et Egregi viro domini Richardo Raines Militis legum20 doctore Curiae Prerogative Cantuariensis Magistri Custodis siue21 Commissario legitime Constituto duodecimo die Mensis Novembris22 Anno domini Millesimo Sexcentesimo Nonagenio Sexto Juramento Elizabetha23 Lewen Executricis in dicto Testamento nominati Cui Commissa fuit24 Administratio omnium et singulorum bonorum jurium et creditorum dicti defuncti25 de bene et fideliter administrando Eadem Ad sancta dei Evangelia26 vigore Commissionis Jurat ex[a]m[inatus]